Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My science teacher said she didn't mind if our class chose topics that were outside of the subject we were learning. So after looking at several prospects and ideas, I decided that I wanted to do a project based on developmental psychology. I'm a twelfth grade and I really enjoy studying psychology. My question is whether or not my science fair project question is actually appropriate for my grade. My question being:
What are the effects of family life on a student's decision to pursue college after high school?

I don't know if this is an acceptable question, please help me out guys. Thank you very much!

Yes, I believe you have chosen an appropriate subject for a project. Have you done any reading to see what has been reported on this subject
The following site will give you a start on the literature search for your project.
Family Makes a Difference: The Influence of Family Background on ...
postsecondary education, family structure, family background, ... I. Introduction Making the decision to attend college going to college and receiving a ...
www.allacademic.com/meta/p107336_index.html

Education, Family Background, Key Factors Determining Economic ...
Sep 18, 2008 ... Exposure to gangs, by contrast, can damage a child's chances of going to college or securing good employment, increase the risk of ...
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/e ... ackground-

How Family Background and Institutional Environment Affect Career ...
ED153531 - How Family Background and Institutional Environment Affect Career Aspirations of College Women.
eric.ed.gov/E
RICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED153531 - 25k

Critical thinking among university students: does the family ...
Independent of effects of the family class background and other characteristics, the father's ... Credit card attitudes and behaviors of college students ...
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCR/is_4_35/ai_84017195/pg_8 - 46k -

Good luck.

Matthew W. Mulanax, Ph.D.

This is a very good and appropriate subject. It sounds very interesting too. How exactly are you going to test this? I think you should come up with a procedure before you begin researching so that you know ahead of time what you need to do. Good Luck!

matthewmulanax wrote:Yes, I believe you have chosen an appropriate subject for a project. Have you done any reading to see what has been reported on this subject
The following site will give you a start on the literature search for your project.
Family Makes a Difference: The Influence of Family Background on ...
postsecondary education, family structure, family background, ... I. Introduction Making the decision to attend college going to college and receiving a ...
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p107336_index.html

Education, Family Background, Key Factors Determining Economic ...
Sep 18, 2008 ... Exposure to gangs, by contrast, can damage a child's chances of going to college or securing good employment, increase the risk of ...
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/e ... ackground-

How Family Background and Institutional Environment Affect Career ...
ED153531 - How Family Background and Institutional Environment Affect Career Aspirations of College Women.
eric.ed.gov/E
RICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED153531 - 25k

Critical thinking among university students: does the family ...
Independent of effects of the family class background and other characteristics, the father's ... Credit card attitudes and behaviors of college students ...
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCR/is_4_35/ai_84017195/pg_8 - 46k -

Good luck.

Matthew W. Mulanax, Ph.D.

Thank you for the sources as well as answering my question guys! I'll be sure to check all of these out.

As for the procedure, I'm still working on it, though I have decided to use a survey since it will probably be the most effiecient way to gather data.

rai_91 wrote:This is a very good and appropriate subject. It sounds very interesting too. How exactly are you going to test this? I think you should come up with a procedure before you begin researching so that you know ahead of time what you need to do. Good Luck!

As I do agree with you, but how are you suppose to make a procedure without enough knowledge about the subject? I thought you should take both sides into equal consideration. Thank you.

How do you know the people you ask are telling the truth if they want to go to college? Shouldn't you ask their GPA, or at least what classes they are taking? Because if I were NOT planning to go to college, I would still say I am....

It is definitely acceptable. From the look of it, it looks like you are looking into doing a stats project. It would be very helpful if you have taken (or are currently taking) AP Stats in high school. The thing about these projects is that there tends to be bias because sometimes people aren't comfortable answering your questions on surveys or they ignore the surveys that you give them. The design of the project is most important. Will you randomly walk up to every 10th person you see and give them a survey to fill out? Or are you going to mail every 10th person you see in your high school directory? You want to eliminate as much bias as possible so that your results are replicable.

Hope that helps!

-Sam